Investigators uncovered progress notes indicating that approximately 40 patients were fraudulently charged for therapy sessions purportedly held seven days a week for years, even on weekends.
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today the sentencing of Elia Torres, a 44-year-old resident of Silver Spring, for her role in defrauding the Maryland Medicaid program. Torres pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024, to charges of Medicaid fraud, having illegally billed the state for more than $1 million in speech language therapy services that were never provided to juvenile Medicaid recipients.
Judge Mary Beth McCormick of the Montgomery County Circuit Court sentenced Torres to five years in prison, with all but 18 months suspended, allowing her to serve the remainder on home detention. She will also face three years of probation and has been ordered to pay restitution totaling $1,019,719.71, of which $225,000 was paid at sentencing. Additionally, she is barred from providing any healthcare services funded by state or federal programs.
“Medical professionals rely on the Maryland Medicaid program to help some of the most vulnerable people in our state. When providers fraudulently bill for Medicaid, they undermine public trust in this important program and deprive low-income Marylanders who need healthcare,” said Attorney General Brown. “Our office will protect Maryland Medicaid funding so more people can get the quality care they need for healthy, fulfilling lives.”
From January 2019 to January 2024, Torres operated Diversity Talks, LLC, a speech language therapy company that primarily served children, many from non-English speaking families. Despite being a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist since 2005, Torres billed Medicaid for therapy sessions that never occurred.
Investigators uncovered progress notes indicating that approximately 40 patients were fraudulently charged for therapy sessions purportedly held seven days a week for years, even on weekends. Notably, many of these children were found to have no need for such services. In one instance, Maryland Medicaid disbursed over $517,000 for therapies to infants.
The investigation also involved interviews with the parents of more than 30 patients, all of whom reported that their children did not receive therapy as claimed. Some families, who had relocated to other states, continued to receive bills for nonexistent appointments long after their departure.
Attorney General Brown commended the efforts of the Medicaid Fraud and Vulnerable Victims Unit, including Assistant Attorneys General and Senior Fraud Analysts, for their diligent work on the case. He also extended his gratitude to the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Narcotics Enforcement Division-Gang Unit for their support in the investigation.
This case highlights the importance of vigilance in safeguarding taxpayer-funded programs and ensuring that vulnerable communities receive the services they truly need.
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